At least 20,000 devotees thronged State's famous Shiva temple at Dhabaleswar here to observe the Kartik fest.
The devotees on Monday observed Nagalya Chaturthi Brata. lord Dhabaleswar was decorated with a special Besha with Nagalinga flowers. Over 15,000 crossed the suspension bridge from Mancheswar village of Athagarh side while 5,000 crossed the river way by boats from Bidanasi side of Cuttack to reach the shrine.
The devotees completed darshan in a peaceful way as the local administration had made adequate arrangements for the same. Gurudijhatia Police Station IIC Anadi Charan Sethi monitored the police deployment where three platoons police force and ten officers were engaged to maintain law and order. Magistrate and local tehsildar Binod Kumar Jena was present at the site of eviction.
As Bada Osa is the famous ritual of the lord Dhabaleswar which falls on November 2 this year, keeping it in view, the district administration has geared up to ensure that the event goes smooth and inident-free.
A preparatory meeting under the chairmanship of Cuttack Collector Susant Mohapatra was held recently at the shrine. The meeting fixed the freight charges of the boat at Rs 30 per person. For passing on the suspension bridge, Rs 2 will be levied. Similarly Bhoga shop, cycle stand, motorcycle stand and parking fees of the vehicles would be regulated by the administration. Different line departments of the Government have been instructed to remain alert during Panchaka.
Cuttack SP (rural), SDPOs Athagarh and Tangi-Choudwar would monitor force deployment. Several NGOs have evinced interest to assist the administration. NCC, NSS and Red Cross volunteers of nearby colleges would assist the administration as well. Entire shrine area would remain under CCTV surveillance. Polythene would be banned in the shrine. Firemen and scuba divers would be deployed at ferry ghats to avert any untoward incidents.
last year, over seven lakhs devotees thronged the Dhabaleswar shrine during Panchaka. This year the administration expects more devotees.